Fashion Leaders to Share Insights at CENTRESTAGE 2018

10 August 2018 – CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s premier fashion event, returns this year on 5-8 Sept at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), CENTRESTAGE provides an ideal promotion and launch platform for international, especially Asian, fashion brands and designer labels. Building on the legacy of previous editions, the 2018 event will house over 220 sought-after brands from around the world and feature about 40 spectacular events. Of these, the Meet the Visionaries Series and Trend Talk Series of seminars will bring a star-studded line-up of international style masters and industry experts to share their perspectives on industry trends and the future of fashion.

Top Asian fashion Designers to Share Insights

The Meet the Visionaries Series includes a 6 Sept seminar, themed “In Conversation with the Asian Creative Forces Shaping the International Fashion Scene”, featuring three of Asia’s top fashion talents, who are also participating in CENTRESTAGE’s opening gala show CENTRESTAGE ELITES (5 Sept). They are Japanese designer Hiromichi Ochiai, who took the fashion world by storm launching his highly acclaimed FACETASM label in 2007; Hong Kong-based designers Cyrus Wong and Julio Ng, who co-founded IDISM in 2016; and Ian Hylton, President of the Ms MIN label launched in 2011 by Min Liu, one of China’s top fashion designers. Brand concepts, inspiration and insights into the future of Asia’s fashion scene will be discussed during the session.

On the following day (7 Sept), a seminar under the series will be hosted by internationally acclaimed London-based fashion designer Martine Rose. Founded in 2007, the Martine Rose label is distributed worldwide through partnerships with leading retailers such as Barneys, Dover Street Market, Isetan, and JOYCE. The designer also has an ongoing consultancy with Balenciaga menswear. Ms Rose will share her story and anecdotes from her career as a fashion designer, which look certain to offer fascinating insights.

Fashion Experts to Explore Future Trends

Anupreet Bhui, Senior Editor of Global Street Style at WGSN, will take part in a 5 Sept seminar under the Trend Talk Series to discuss what is next for the fashion industry and offer her expert advice. Under the topic “WGSN Fashion Forecast A/W 19/20 – Street Style, Luxury and Culture WGSN”, Ms Bhui will explore the key items, colours and macro trends that will determine the mood, feel and socio-cultural movements for the season ahead. The style guru will also address the rising influence of streetwear among Gen Z (Generation Z, referring to the generation born since the millennium) consumers and share her thoughts on how the trend will continue to evolve.

Another trend talk titled “Global Fashion Overview – Digitalisation Throughout” will be held on 6 Sept and led by Jorge Martin, Head of Fashion Research at Euromonitor International. In this presentation, Mr Martin will analyse the digital state of play of the global fashion industry in 2018 and how these and other takes on technology are transforming the fashion industry.

Additional Attractions

Fashion Summit (HK) (6-7 Sept), Asia’s largest conference focusing on sustainable fashion, will return after its inauguration last year, featuring the theme “Circular Economy”. Leading academics, key industry players, non-government organisations, decision makers and leaders from various disciplines and geographical locations will exchange insights on how to make the fashion industry more sustainable. Participants in the two-day conference will include representatives of H&M Group, Lane Crawford, Vogue Australia, Wal-Mart Stores, WWF-Hong Kong, and The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA).

About the HKTDC

Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 50 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

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